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The Payroll BlogTue, 31 Mar 2015 15:26:33 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.110 Ways to Unleash the Creative Power of Your Organizationhttp://blog.surepayroll.com/10-ways-to-unleash-the-creative-power-of-your-organization/
http://blog.surepayroll.com/10-ways-to-unleash-the-creative-power-of-your-organization/#commentsMon, 30 Mar 2015 10:00:15 +0000http://blog.surepayroll.com/?p=437910 Ways to Unleash the Creative Power of Your Organization is a post from: The Payroll Blog
]]>Forward thinking differentiates successful businesses from their peers, particularly in this era of technological breakthroughs happening at amazing speeds. You’ve heard of companies that used to be successful but failed to innovate and keep up with the times. Their eventual shutdowns are compelling reasons for other businesses to now put a premium on creativity in the workplace. After all, people learn not just from their own mistakes.

Creativity, however, isn’t something that can be turned on or off at will. It needs a breeding ground, an environment where it can be coaxed out of its shell. This article will tackle ten ways to improve creativity in the workplace.

Reward creativity

According to a 2014 article by Nathan Collins on the Pacific Standard, “when a reward follows an action, that action gets reinforced, and we’re more likely to take that action in the future.”

That is what positive reinforcement basically means, and it can be applied regardless of the time and place; at home when teaching kids right from wrong, at school when teaching students their lessons, or at work when encouraging customers to purchase more of your company’s products or services.

Thus, one effective way to encourage creativity in the workplace is through rewards. As MindTools further notes, while it’s important to recognize workers for their efforts, it’s also equally important to appropriately reward them.

Embrace diversity

People who share the same ideas, have similar hobbies, or follow the same sets of guiding principles are likely to enjoy being part of the same team. Because they are alike in so many ways, they’re likely to agree on a lot of things as well. (Birds of the same feather, eh?)

On the other hand, when people of diverse backgrounds, creed, and experiences are brought together to make up a team, varying perspectives are injected into the same problem or situation. There are certain nuances only people exposed to a particular culture can understand. A product, or even a simple gesture, that’s acceptable to one culture can be offensive to another.

While diversity comes with its own string of growing pains, allowing diversity in an organization is allowing people to change the way they think, making them more creative, smarter, and more diligent, which means better decisions, more problems solved, and better business outcomes overall.

Eliminate negative feedback

People dislike negative people who never run out of things to complain about. While negative publicity is still publicity, brands, as much as possible, shy away from it. Negative reactions to an idea you think is too brilliant to keep to yourself can hurt. If you’re the type who has mastered the art of turning negativity into creative fuel, our hats off to you. But don’t expect everyone else to be like you.

Creative ideas are celebrated, yes. But prior to the celebration, they’re oftentimes met with protests. So why would an employee bother to pitch an idea if he/she already knows the idea will be met with negativity?

As Alex Osborn of BBDO in Your Creative Power famously put it, “Creativity is so delicate a flower that praise tends to make it bloom while discouragement often nips it in the bud.”

Don’t frown upon anonymity

Anonymity is getting a bad rap, no thanks to entities so called the “keyboard warriors” and Internet trolls lurking behind public forums and social media channels to insult or bully unsuspecting users, or to simply spread negativity through spiteful and sarcastic comments.

But anonymity has its uses as well. While some employees revel in the glory, their brilliant ideas may bring them, some may not feel as strongly because they’re too shy, or afraid of retribution, real or imagined. Needless to say, suggestion boxes and anonymous tip lines have their uses.

Put up an idea board in the workplace or an idea repository on your website

Another way to coax creativity out of your employees is through a board where people can write just about anything. Remember, some great things spring from random, even offhand, ideas. For global teams, an idea repository within your company or team website can function in a similar manner.

Even simple workspace tweaks can vastly help boost employee happiness at work. According to a Huff Post article by Liz Wilkes, such tweaks can include office colors, natural versus artificial lighting, scents, potted plants on desks, room temperature, office layout, and ergonomics.

Run contests

This tip follows through #1. The success of crowdsourcing websites is partly through contests participated in by numerous people from various parts of the world. The same can be enforced within your company.

The prize doesn’t always have to be monetary. For example, if your company needs names for certain rooms in a new office location, actually using the chosen names is sometimes reward enough for the person/s who took the time to come up with goofy, unique, or “whatever fits your criteria” names. While the effort doesn’t come with a cash equivalent, the bragging rights are definitely theirs.

Be creative with your brainstorming sessions

If you’re after innovation, imposing board-room-only team meetings entails missing out on the possible creativity-inducing effects of brainstorming sessions in parks, cafes, or some off-the-cuff place.

As for brainstorming techniques, below are a few articles listing several of them:

Whether used in a collaborative setting or not, mind-mapping tools like Mindmeister.com and Coggle help users visualize and organize their thoughts through associations, images, and icons, enabling them to remember more and unleash their creativity.

Create swap days

Swapping jobs with other people makes you aware of the challenges they face, the difficulties their jobs entail, and the perspectives that sometimes push them to act in a certain way. According to the You Earned It blog, “creativity thrives on connections, changed perspectives, and synchronicity.”

Conclusion

Creativity is no longer just for creatives – e.g., writers, painters, musicians, or composers. With the thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of similar products and services vying for market share, differentiation is key to standing out from the crowd. And because more heads are better than one, cultivating an atmosphere that values creativity is the first step towards an innovation-driven workplace culture.

Author Bio – Cloudswave

Yasmina Yousfi is Cloudswave‘s CBDO. She works closely with the rest of the team to find new marketing strategies and business development models.

]]>http://blog.surepayroll.com/10-ways-to-unleash-the-creative-power-of-your-organization/feed/0Why Your To-Do List Should Always Be Shorthttp://blog.surepayroll.com/why-your-to-do-list-should-always-be-short/
http://blog.surepayroll.com/why-your-to-do-list-should-always-be-short/#commentsFri, 27 Mar 2015 10:00:16 +0000http://blog.surepayroll.com/?p=4377Why Your To-Do List Should Always Be Short is a post from: The Payroll Blog
]]>At least their “action items” for the day are short and simple. They way they arrive at those items varies.

What all the lists have in common is that at the point of daily contact, they are short and simple. More elaborate list makers chart multiple projects, both personal and professional, but find a way to channel them into a daily section that includes only a few items.

Jim McCann, founder and CEO, 1-800-Flowers.com, Inc., went so far as having pads printed that say: “Things I have to do today.”

He is like many others who prefer paper to online lists. Others prefer online lists that range from simple like Wunderlist, to extensive like OmniFocus. Even the more complicated list managers have a way to zero in on the shorter, daily list at the heart of real productivity.

Having an extensive list of things to do means you’re inevitably going to fail to get many of them done. You’ll start working on the wrong items at the wrong times and that leaves us stressed when we should be enjoying things outside of work.

The most effective people, conversely, look at the to-do list like a contract – the terms of which have to be met by day’s end. Instead of spinning their wheels of non-essential tasks, they’re hyper focused on what must be done.

Complexity is important as is long-term planning. But nothing drives productivity more than focusing on a few important tasks every day and making sure they are completed. That is how successful people do it and gearing your productivity thinking in that direction should be on your short list as well.

]]>http://blog.surepayroll.com/why-your-to-do-list-should-always-be-short/feed/0ROI Basics for Your Small Businesshttp://blog.surepayroll.com/roi-basics-for-your-small-business/
http://blog.surepayroll.com/roi-basics-for-your-small-business/#commentsWed, 25 Mar 2015 15:35:03 +0000http://blog.surepayroll.com/?p=4373ROI Basics for Your Small Business is a post from: The Payroll Blog
]]>Think about how you spend money on your business. Are you doing so in hopes of achieving growth?

While spending money can bring positive results, it can turn bad soon enough if you are not tracking your return on investment (ROI) – commonly defined as your net profit divided by your total assets.

As a business owner, you must keep tabs on the following:

What you are spending your money on

How much you are spending

What you are getting in return for every dollar you put out

When you track the ROI associated with every expense, it is easier to determine where you should spend your money in the future. Here are three ideas to consider:

Marketing. Some marketing strategies will have a high ROI, while others will flop around and lose money. You should experiment with many options, focusing on the return that each one brings.

New employees. This is one of your biggest expenses, but at the same time every employee has the ability to bring something unique to your company. Since the cost of hiring an employee can be high, you must make sure the ROI is worthwhile.

Equipment. To achieve growth, some companies require new equipment. Before you make a purchase, calculate the potential ROI. This will give you a better idea of whether or not you should move forward at the present time.

No two companies are the same. No two owners have the same business plan and strategy. The way you spend money is unique to your organization, and is based on your beliefs, industry, and goals. Even with all that in mind, nothing changes the fact that you must track the return on investment associated with every dollar you spend. By doing so, you will have a better idea of where you should spend your money now and in the future.

]]>http://blog.surepayroll.com/roi-basics-for-your-small-business/feed/0Small Business Owner Optimism Hits New Highhttp://blog.surepayroll.com/march-2015-scorecard/
http://blog.surepayroll.com/march-2015-scorecard/#commentsMon, 23 Mar 2015 10:00:51 +0000http://blog.surepayroll.com/?p=4362Small Business Owner Optimism Hits New High is a post from: The Payroll Blog
]]>Small business owners’ optimism about the economy has reached a new high in March, topping out at 81%. A year ago, it was only 68%.

According to the SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard, the vast majority of small businesses are seeing results that are better or at least the same as last year after one quarter.

Concerns over health care and the minimum wage seem to have lessened, while hiring nationwide and stability in economy seem to be adding to their optimism.

Year to date, hiring is up 0.1% and the average paycheck has increased 0.7%.

For the full picture on the small business economy, check out our infographic below:

The time has come to draft your MLB fantasy team. Just the same as the guys who take the field, you know a long season awaits. You also know that a high level performance will have you at the top of the standings when the season finally comes to an end.

Like most, you go into your fantasy draft with dreams of pulling in the best talent. Of course, you realize you will be lucky to draft a couple of the best players in the league. After all, you only have so much money to spend (assuming you are part of an auction draft).

You will eventually ask yourself this question: how can I save on my payroll while still giving myself a chance to take home the top prize?

At SurePayroll, we are here to help you answer this question. After all, payroll is our bread and butter.

Below, we’ll examine 9 players (one at each position) – based on auction values provided by ESPN – and tell you which ones offer the “most bang for your buck.”

Reminder: this is not a list of the best picks for your fantasy team, but rather the players that provide the best fantasy baseball auction draft values (cheap price, above average performance).

Catcher: Russell Martin. He may not be suiting up for the Pirates this season, but that doesn’t mean Martin won’t be able to perform at his 2014 level, which was the best of his career. For $11 in an ESPN fantasy league, Martin will give you the production you need from behind the plate.

First base. Adam LaRoche. Playing for the White Sox this season, the 35-year-old hopes to perform at a high level again in 2015. He finished last season with 26 homeruns and 92 RBI’s. He only batted .259, but as far as power numbers are concerned, LaRoche has potential. Auction value: $14.

Second base. Jedd Gyorko. Is 2015 the year Gyorko finally breaks through? If 2014 was any indication, the answer is yes. In a season where he only played in 111 games, the power hitting second baseman finished with 10 homeruns and 51 RBI’s. Auction value: $12.

Third base. Martin Prado. A definite risk, but well worth the money. Prado batted .282 last season with 12 homeruns and 58 RBI’s. Auction value: $13.

Shortstop. Javier Baez. This position can make or break your fantasy team. Baez is a guy to keep an eye on. In 52 games last season, this Chicago Cub belted 9 homeruns and 20 RBI’s. If he breaks out this season, you could benefit in a big way. Auction value: $12.

Outfield. Brett Gardner. Playing for the Yankees, its lineup full of strong bats will only help Gardner in 2015. Last year, he was good for 17 homeruns and 58 RBI’s. This year could be even better. Auction value: $17.

Designated hitter. Kennys Vargas. This young gun, suiting up for the Minnesota Twins, hit 9 homeruns and accounted for 38 RBI’s in 2014. Best yet, he put up these numbers in 53 games. Auction value: $3.

Starting pitcher. Jake Arrieta. The Chicago Cubs are expected to be much improved in 2015, with a lot of its success hinging on Arrieta and the rest of the pitching staff. He won 10 games last year, striking out 167 and only walking 41. Auction value: $16.

Relief pitcher. Zach Britton. The 27-year-old did big things for the Orioles last season. In addition to 37 saves and three wins, he tallied 62 strikeouts. Auction value: $14.

The Time has Come

Your MLB fantasy draft is right around the corner. In addition to the “big name studs” that you add to your lineup, don’t overlook the nine guys detailed above. They are primed to provide high value in 2015.

]]>http://blog.surepayroll.com/fantasy-baseball-auction-draft-values-2015/feed/02015 MLB Team Payrollshttp://blog.surepayroll.com/2015-mlb-team-payrolls/
http://blog.surepayroll.com/2015-mlb-team-payrolls/#commentsWed, 18 Mar 2015 21:33:07 +0000http://blog.surepayroll.com/?p=43602015 MLB Team Payrolls is a post from: The Payroll Blog
]]>There are MLB teams that spend their money wisely. There are also teams that blow through tens of millions of dollars on the highest paid players, never seeing much of a return.

With the 2015 MLB season ready to get underway in the next few weeks, it is time to look towards the future. Which teams are spending the most money? Which teams are spending the least? And most importantly, which teams are getting the most bang for their buck?

Over the past couple of seasons, teams such as the Pittsburgh Pirates have been making the most of their payroll. On the flipside, teams such as the New York Yankees have spent an exorbitant amount of money, just to sit at home when the playoffs begin. And a team like the Chicago Cubs is just now beginning to spend big bucks on payroll after building their farm system.

Below is the estimated total 2015 payroll for every MLB team (courtesy of Spotrac):

Los Angeles Dodgers: $273,440,830

New York Yankees: $211,747,857

Boston Red Sox: $178,513,094

San Francisco Giants: $169,452,777

Detroit Tigers: $166,675,000

Los Angeles Angels: $159,687,833

Washington Nationals: $158,514,285

Philadelphia Phillies: $136,366,666

Texas Rangers: $135,750,000

Toronto Blue Jays: $121,125,000

Seattle Mariners: $119,237,142

Baltimore Orioles: $118,543,333

St. Louis Cardinals: $115,350,000

Cincinnati Reds: $114,869,587

Chicago Cubs: $114,629,523

Kansas City Royals: $112,890,000

Chicago White Sox: $110,060,477

Minnesota Twins: $100,975,000

Colorado Rockies: $99,516,171

Milwaukee Brewers: $98,037,500

New York Mets: $94,761,105

San Diego Padres: $93,643,333

Atlanta Braves: $92,568,898

Pittsburgh Pirates: $84,312,499

Arizona Diamondbacks: $83,458,333

Cleveland Indians: $81,811,999

Oakland Athletics: $77,234,166

Tampa Bay Rays: $67,908,332

Houston Astros: $63,300,000

Miami Marlins: $60,375,000

So, there you have it. These are the 2015 payroll numbers for every team in the MLB. As you can see, the Los Angeles Dodgers have spent more than any other team in the league (and not by a small margin). Will this result in more wins on the field?

The 2015 MLB season will be here soon enough. As the summer goes by, be sure to check this post often. It will be interesting to track how much the teams at the top of the standings are spending.

]]>http://blog.surepayroll.com/2015-mlb-team-payrolls/feed/05 Finance Terms Small Biz Owners Must Know and Understandhttp://blog.surepayroll.com/5-finance-terms-small-biz-owners-must-know-and-understand/
http://blog.surepayroll.com/5-finance-terms-small-biz-owners-must-know-and-understand/#commentsMon, 16 Mar 2015 21:25:06 +0000http://blog.surepayroll.com/?p=43525 Finance Terms Small Biz Owners Must Know and Understand is a post from: The Payroll Blog
]]>As a small business owner, you will have a lot on your plate. From hiring new employees to bringing in new business, you will wear many hats.

The more you understand about business in general the better off you will be. Even more so, you must have a strong understanding of the financial side of your organization.

Here are five finance terms all small business owners must know and understand:

Accounts payable. These are bills to be paid as part of your business. Until an invoice is paid, it is recorded on your balance sheet as part of accounts payable.

Accounts receivable. This can be considered the opposite of accounts payable, as it includes debts owed to your company. In short, this is the amount of money due to you from a customer who has not paid.

Cash flow. The basic definition of cash flow is as follows: the total amount of money being transferred into and out of a business. As a small business owner, your goal is to have more money coming in than going out.

Expense. There are many common expenses taken on by companies, including but not limited to: advertising, rent, travel, utilities, and salaries. It is imperative to track expenses as many are deductible against taxable income.

Income statement. It does no matter if you call it an income statement or profit and loss statement, the importance of this finance term does not change. This shows sales, costs of sales, operating expenses, gross margin, and profits or losses.

Some small business owners, especially those with a finance background, have no trouble understanding these terms. Others, however, have to spend more time learning about this side of their business.

Every small business owner, regardless of industry and company size, must know and understand the five finance terms above.

]]>http://blog.surepayroll.com/5-finance-terms-small-biz-owners-must-know-and-understand/feed/1How to Find a Mentor as a Small Business Ownerhttp://blog.surepayroll.com/find-mentor-small-business-owner/
http://blog.surepayroll.com/find-mentor-small-business-owner/#commentsThu, 12 Mar 2015 10:00:12 +0000http://blog.surepayroll.com/?p=4334How to Find a Mentor as a Small Business Owner is a post from: The Payroll Blog
]]>As a small business owner, having a mentor can be the difference between success and failure. It can be the difference between making all the right decisions and making mistakes that sink your company.

When you come to realize that this would be in your best interest, here are three tips that will help you find the right mentor:

Reach out. Do you have somebody in mind who would be the perfect mentor? Don’t be shy in contacting this person, explaining your situation, and asking if they are willing to help.

Take advantage of your network. From your LinkedIn connections to local networking groups, you should make it known that you are looking for a mentor who can help you take your business to the next level.

Turn to organizations, such as SCORE. With more than 300 locations throughout the United States, there is a good chance that you can find a SCORE volunteer member in your area who is more than willing to sit down and discuss your business.

Know What You Want

Before you begin your search for a mentor, make a list of what you are hoping to accomplish. Some ideas to consider include:

Somebody who can act as a sounding board for new ideas

An industry professional who can help you avoid common pitfalls and steer you in the right direction

A person with a track record of success

If somebody is willing to act as your mentor, it is your responsibility to treat him or her with respect. This means not overstepping your boundaries, taking their advice to heart, and never becoming too demanding. Remember, this person is doing you a favor and you should be grateful for that.

When you follow the above advice, it will only be a matter of time before you find a mentor who can help you become a more successful small business owner.

]]>http://blog.surepayroll.com/find-mentor-small-business-owner/feed/0The Anatomy of an Optimized Web Pagehttp://blog.surepayroll.com/anatomy-optimized-web-page/
http://blog.surepayroll.com/anatomy-optimized-web-page/#commentsWed, 11 Mar 2015 10:00:43 +0000http://blog.surepayroll.com/?p=4336The Anatomy of an Optimized Web Page is a post from: The Payroll Blog
]]>How you optimize your web page – the design, copy and placement of various elements – can have a huge impact on how your site ranks in search results. Ranking higher on the pages of Google and Bing can, in turn, mean more views, social media shares and likes, and most importantly, new customers discovering your product or service.

The problem is web page optimization often feels complicated and overwhelming for the average user, who is not a web developer or SEO expert.

Fear not. We have created a piece by piece deconstruction of each element on a web page that will help you build your brand, reach more people with your content and gain more followers.

]]>http://blog.surepayroll.com/anatomy-optimized-web-page/feed/1What You Should Know About S Corporations vs. LLCshttp://blog.surepayroll.com/s-corporations-vs-llcs/
http://blog.surepayroll.com/s-corporations-vs-llcs/#commentsTue, 10 Mar 2015 10:00:42 +0000http://blog.surepayroll.com/?p=4332What You Should Know About S Corporations vs. LLCs is a post from: The Payroll Blog
]]>In the alphabet soup world of business structures, the trend lines are clear: The 900-pound gorillas known as “S Corporations” are under assault from the hard-charging “LLCs.”

Understanding why this is happening is instructive to small business owners and prospective owners struggling with a decision on which structure to use.

Forbes contributor Steve Parrish recently gave his opinion on why S Corporations are declining. He said that S Corps are not dead, however they are increasingly at the mercy of government, creditors and benefit designers.

His main point was that government taxes and our lawsuits makes profitable businesses huge targets. The biggest advantage an LLC, or Limited Liability Company, has over an S Corporation is that its assets are much more difficult to legally access by litigants. Parrish explains that certain states have made creditor/debtor laws favor the debtors, and that LLCs do better under these laws:

“In many states, the creditor who successfully obtains a judgment against an LLC ends up with nothing more than a charging order. And more and more, these charging orders leave the creditor empty-handed because the debtor can delay or even eliminate collection.

What I’m finding is that businesses concerned about company liability issues are often being advised to form as an LLC, not as a regular corporation (otherwise known as C Corp). It’s suggested that this business form offers superior asset protection. In many cases, this also means owners gravitate towards “check the box” status as a partnership or sole proprietor for federal income tax purposes. This movement towards LLC legal status may portend a decrease in creation of regular corporations electing as an S Corp.”

Let’s take a step backwards for a minute. The S Corporation is far from dead. About 70 percent of all corporations filed as an S Corporation, according to IRS statistics. But if you are considering the LLC option for the first time, here’s what you need to know about that structure’s strengths and weaknesses.

“Unlike shareholders in a corporation, LLCs are not taxed as a separate business entity. Instead, all profits and losses are ‘passed through’ the business to each member of the LLC. LLC members report profits and losses on their personal federal tax returns, just like the owners of a partnership would.”

According to the SBA, there are three main advantages with an LLC:

Limited liability. In essence, this means that members of the partnership are protected from personal liability for business decisions or actions of the LLC. This is not complete legal protection but could protect a business from nuisance litigation and families from liability.

Recordkeeping. The LLC process is far less complex and cumbersome than forming an S Corporation. This is an attractive benefit in a world filled with growing paperwork requirements.

Flexibility. An LLC can share its profits as it sees fit within the partnership. It is not as simple within an S Corporation.

The main disadvantage of an LLC is self-employment taxation. Again, the SBA explains:

“Members of an LLC are considered self-employed and must pay the self-employment tax contributions towards Medicare and Social Security. The entire net income of the LLC is subject to this tax.”

So, in essence, the cost of self-employment taxation weighed against legal liability and complexity is tipping the scales toward LLCs for many prospective business owners. Congress is always tinkering with tax structures so this trend is far from permanent. But for now, giving LLCs a close look might prove beneficial to your business’ long-term success.